Avengers Launching off HMS Victorious to raid Formosa.  This picture was taken from the deck of HMS Illustrious.

Avengers launching off HMS Victorious

In this photo the crew of HMS Illustrious say good bye to the USS Saratoga.  The two ships had been part of the same task force in the Pacific fighting the Japanese.  The Saratoga is now heading home and the Illustrious will be heading home a few weeks later.  The Japanese have finally been beaten and now all of those young men that have survived the conflict will get on with their lives.  My father would eventually return to Canada and it would only be at the end of his life that he would once again have contact with his old Royal Marine buddies.

HMS Illustrious & USS Saratoga

August 1940: the British Home Guard - then the local defence Volunteers - in training.  Many young men got their first taste of military training in the home guard until they were old enough for the real thing.